argh! i had decided on the nx80v, but then got enticed by the th55 programs, pda durability(?) & battery life. Where I live, the stores will NOT let customers play with the machines (the stores will not even turn ON the machine so I can't even take a look at screen brightness) , so I am totally relying on the internet for info.
Here's my comparison from reading web reviews.

TH55: Good programs (Clie Organizer, Clie Files) +
Reviews all note that battery life is good +
More memory (30.4 Mb available to user) +
Already has WiFi built in +
Seems more rugged (there's a cover for Mem Stick)+
But screen is dim -
No headphone MP3 remote, no sync cradle, no keyboard -

So, I need help with the question marks for NX80V (Somehow I couldn't find as much info on its programs etc as I could find on the TH55)

1. PROGRAMS:
- Can the NX80V launcher be set to "tabbed" instead of the "casino slot machine" thing that I see on webpages with NX80V turned on?
- Does the PIM support drag-and-drop between different programs?
- Does it have the sticky notes (Freenotes) where you can write in your own handwriting and hyperlink the note to your address book or date book?
- Does the NX80V also let you double click on an appointment in the text of an e-mail to automatically enter that into your date book?

If NX80V doesn't do the above, then can I get programs to supplement PIM functionality?

2. Battery life
- Can I expect a big battery difference between the two machines?
(The official Sony literature has the TH55 battery span as 15 days and the NX80V battery span as 14 days! Exaggerated? maybe, but how do the 2 machines really stack up against each other on battery life?)

3. Sturdiness
- Is the NX80V pretty rugged? Should I be concerned that the Memory Stick slot doesn't have a lid (ie, we have monsoon season so maybe a lot of humidity can invade the machine thru the ms slot--am i being paranoid)? Can I take it hiking with me to photograph wild flowers (sturdy)?
- How many years/months does the NX80V last before the machine starts to have wear out & die ?

I guess overall, my question is, Can the NX80V be made to do everything that the TH55 can do (for programs--by purchasing programs etc; for batterylife--by turning down brightness etc)?

-unrelated question on "digital ink": are there any programs that allow you to take handwritten notes on your PDA (say, during a meeting) and then later having them "interpreted" or converted to type-written text? ( Or is this what Decuma is for? )

Screen brightness - The NX is too bright in a dark room, even on the lowest setting. I think the TH's more than bright enough, even for outdoor use.Launcher - Don't think you can do anything to the NX launcher, you'll need a third-party launcher for tabs.Free notes - I think earlier Clies have an application for that, but you can't hyperlink.Software in general - I can't give concrete examples, but Sony says they've done a lot of software optimization during the last year, and it shows on the TH55. It feels faster than my UX50 and the UX50 felt faster than my NX80V for some tasks (NetFront, Picsel Viewer, the system in general).Remember the Clie Organizer MemoPad lets you import .txt files larger than 4K.PIM apps - the NX80V come with standard palmSource apps. There may be third party alternatives for hyperlink and such, but for PIM purposes the TH55 is a far better choice.

Sturdiness - The NX80V is very solid except for the rotating hinge of the screen. My NX80V dropped off the dining table, and the screen has been misaligned with the bottom ever since. Remember Japan has monsoon season too, so the memory stick slot door thing shouldn't pose a problem.

Tablet PC-style handwriting input - I don't think there's anything on Palm OS that does this (writing on the screen and it converts text at the same position on screen). You'll always be writing at the bottom of the screen, and text is entered in the display area above it. You can customize handwriting recognition on "Decuma Latin" (not the Decuma with Japanese market models), that'll improve recognition.

Battery life - The NX80V's got a huge battery, but I think the TH55 still has a bit more battery life.

My last opinion - I bought the NX80V thinking it'll replace everything (mp3 player, digital camera...) but I was dissatisfied with these capabilities - they don't perform as well as individual devices. The TH55 is focused on PIM but does a wonderful job at it. Also, I think so much software are improved and perform better on the TH. Happy shopping!